Abstract

Every year, 15 million children in underdeveloped countries die from heart disease that may have been prevented. The reduction of infectious illness in low and middle-income countries has been the focus of international initiatives to reduce mortality among children under five. Despite these efforts, Congenital heart disease (CHD) and acquired heart disease have got less attention. Methods: Over 20 months, an extensive health screening initiative was implemented, examining 41,929 children from newborns to 18-year-old. The screening encompassed a broad spectrum, from identifying congenital disabilities to evaluating developmental milestones, using advanced diagnostic methods such as color Doppler, echocardiography, and clinical examinations. Results: An observed prevalence of 5.3 cases per 1000 population highlighted the incidence of cardiac lesions in the examined cohort. Among these, ventricular septal defect (VSD) emerged as the most prevalent, constituting 31.6% of cases. Following closely were patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) at 25.45% and atrial septal defect (ASD) at 16.81%. Notably, Tetralogy of Fallot stood out as the most common cyanotic heart disease, accounting for 6.06% of cases. The diagnostic landscape revealed that most heart disease cases were identified in the age group from 6 weeks to 6 years. This age bracket encompassed the peak period for the diagnosis of cardiac issues in the examined pediatric population. Conclusion: In many regions worldwide, access to diagnostic services and healthcare is still restricted. The disparities in reported birth rates between high- and low-income countries are most likely caused by these constraints. Variables related to the environment, genetics, socioeconomic status, or ethnic origin may cause the observed differences. Therefore, further research is needed to customize how this global health issue is handled.

Description